The problem with ITX (or even mATX) cases is this, if you want to keep a small overall footprint:

- If the optical drive hangs "over" the motherboard, then the case becomes high
- If the optical drive is positioned to the "side" of the motherboard, then the case becomes wider, but potentially thinner.

My perspective is that it's a compromise and an individual choice. Some folks like thin cases (but don't mind wide), some like them narrow even if they are higher.

An ITX motherboard is 6.7" x 6.7". Even though optical drives (full size drive that is)have varying depths, most modern drives are never more than 7" deep and 5.25"-5.5" (approx) wide. A 1U server chassis (1.75" high) easily fits a full size drive. As far as motherboards go, a fair number will fit, other than a few whose audio headers on the back panel are too high. Then you need to think about the one and only add-on card that you may want to add to the system. The "height" of a full size add-on card is 4.2"

So, let's start designing a case....

Case width = 6.7" (MB) + 4.2" (add-on card height) + 5.25" (optical drive width) = ~16.2"
Case depth = And that's where the design forks out into any number of configurations....
Case height = Has to be atleast ~2" and onwards....And that's also where the design forks out into any number of configurations....

Where do you put the power supply? What type? What size??

I agree K

I like the Fry's Raid Max because its not too tall, too wide or too deep. Its the same height as the Apex M1-008, turned sideways its no longer than that case either. Its roughly half the depth of the M1-008 and that's why I like it.

Plus the price can't be beat, the mini-box case is about $40 as well but has no room for a optical drive or a expansion slot.

If you turn the Raidmax horizontal, put some Radio Shack rubber feet on it (still have some) it becomes very much like a standard AV unit with its perforated grill. It uses standard size HDD and Optical. Save about $4-5 on the optical drive since the slim drives are a bit more and slot loaded drives are even more. You can get 1TB in a 3.5 size for about the same price as 500GB 2.5 drive.

I added it up a system with the ASRock board and come out to $282 and that's with a DVD burner, 1TB drive and only a few left Visiontek HD650 USB tuner because I would save the space when budget allows for a HD5670.....

That would be a nice little system now wouldn't? It wouldn't look half bad either.

The problem with ITX (or even mATX) cases is this, if you want to keep a small overall footprint:

- If the optical drive hangs "over" the motherboard, then the case becomes high
- If the optical drive is positioned to the "side" of the motherboard, then the case becomes wider, but potentially thinner.

My perspective is that it's a compromise and an individual choice. Some folks like thin cases (but don't mind wide), some like them narrow even if they are higher.

An ITX motherboard is 6.7" x 6.7". Even though optical drives (full size drive that is)have varying depths, most modern drives are never more than 7" deep and 5.25"-5.5" (approx) wide. A 1U server chassis (1.75" high) easily fits a full size drive. As far as motherboards go, a fair number will fit, other than a few whose audio headers on the back panel are too high. Then you need to think about the one and only add-on card that you may want to add to the system. The "height" of a full size add-on card is 4.2"

So, let's start designing a case....

Case width = 6.7" (MB) + 4.2" (add-on card height) + 5.25" (optical drive width) = ~16.2"
Case depth = And that's where the design forks out into any number of configurations....
Case height = Has to be atleast ~2" and onwards....And that's also where the design forks out into any number of configurations....

Where do you put the power supply? What type? What size??

This was one of the things that attracted me to the Gigabyte case. It's 17" wide (about standard for AV components), it allows for a full size ODD (even though I modded for a slim), and full size HDD (I used a 2.5"). But since it is only 2.5" tall, I was required to either use the stock DC/DC PSU or a Pico (which I chose). Of course, I was building a client box to go in my living room setup. If I were building an ITX server, I would probably opt for the Lian Li PC-Q08 since it allows for an ATX PSU, expansion card and several HDDs. Not to mention it has great air flow characteristics.

A CPU/NB/SB/HDD/GPU will happily run at 55 degrees all day long, for its lifetime. It is designed for that. And just because it runs "hotter" doesn't mean it's using up more energy or anything.

It's when you exceed the thermal threshold that things go south.

Cooling products follow the same marketing principles as life insurance...the more you have the better...IF you need it someday... We upgrade our systems long before they will ever wear out from running "hotter".

Oooh that one is nice! (I could do without the somewhat tacky VFD though.) But it's definitely nice, especially if available in black. But the price? eek

Edit: Also, for $275 they sure do give you a turd of a PSU How about they take out the PSU, take out the VFD, and let's say $175? Okay that's still too much for me, lol, but at least it wouldn't have stuff I have no use for.

I ordered this case from newegg. It comes with an internal 150 flex power supply and one 80mm case fan positioned on the opposite side. The Teschk.de review (link above) said the sound from the case fan was equal to that of the power supply without modifying it. If Google translate hasn't led me astray, I believe they are saying it is reasonably quiet as is.

Unfortunately, it's not for me. I'm doing a build for a relative. I was going to go with the mi-008, which I used for my own htpc, but then I'm pretty sure I'd be looking at an aftermarket cpu cooler to fit an athlon x2 255 under the psu. I know I had to replace the stock cooler on my e5300 to make it work in the mi-008. The extra cost would bring it to within $10.00 of the Q09 (mi-008 plus NT07-AM2 cooler = $59 at Amazon). The mi-008 also needs at least one added case fan (I added a 120mm to the right side vent).

My hope is that I'll manage to find a way to make a 3.5" hdd fit in the Q09, either attached under the lid or secured behind the front wall positioned on edge horizontally. Worse case scenario is I have to order a 2.5" hdd, but if I can get away with not having to do that I'll be pretty happy. If this case can be used as is, meaning no need to mess with (or add) psu, stock fan or case fan, then this will be by far the nicest case for the money I've seen yet for a sff htpc. The case doesn't have any expansion slots though, so that might be deal breaker for some uses (for this build on-board graphics and audio are more than adequate).

Hmmm.... Apex seems to have many interesting cases at a reasonable price.

They have three different series - MW, MD and MI. I see the MI series talked about here some, but not the others. I may be missing something about this other series that eliminates it from consideration.

Upon initial glance these seem like nice cases. I would be interested in everyones opinions. I like the option of have a 5.25 optical drive that is not slim size. really helps keep the price down. They seem to have quite a few options. Newegg has some in stock - the 107 is interesting, but no reviews...

This case has potential - look at the bottom of page 9 in this thread from some good discussion between Stardog and Renethx.

The lack of 3.5 dive support is a bummer.... let us know if you find a good way to retro a 3.5 drive in there. Also why not put a standard size optical drive in it with the available space? Also as a general note (I am sounding like a broken record....) an IR window would be nice!

I ordered this case from newegg. It comes with an internal 150 flex power supply and one 80mm case fan positioned on the opposite side. The Teschk.de review (link above) said the sound from the case fan was equal to that of the power supply without modifying it. If Google translate hasn't led me astray, I believe they are saying it is reasonably quiet as is.

Unfortunately, it's not for me. I'm doing a build for a relative. I was going to go with the mi-008, which I used for my own htpc, but then I'm pretty sure I'd be looking at an aftermarket cpu cooler to fit an athlon x2 255 under the psu. I know I had to replace the stock cooler on my e5300 to make it work in the mi-008. The extra cost would bring it to within $10.00 of the Q09 (mi-008 plus NT07-AM2 cooler = $59 at Amazon). The mi-008 also needs at least one added case fan (I added a 120mm to the right side vent).

My hope is that I'll manage to find a way to make a 3.5" hdd fit in the Q09, either attached under the lid or secured behind the front wall positioned on edge horizontally. Worse case scenario is I have to order a 2.5" hdd, but if I can get away with not having to do that I'll be pretty happy. If this case can be used as is, meaning no need to mess with (or add) psu, stock fan or case fan, then this will be by far the nicest case for the money I've seen yet for a sff htpc. The case doesn't have any expansion slots though, so that might be deal breaker for some uses (for this build on-board graphics and audio are more than adequate).

This case has potential - look at the bottom of page 9 in this thread from some good discussion between Stardog and Renethx.

The lack of 3.5 dive support is a bummer.... let us know if you find a good way to retro a 3.5 drive in there. Also why not put a standard size optical drive in it with the available space? Also as a general note (I am sounding like a broken record....) an IR window would be nice!

I will keep you posted on the 3.5" drive. I looked at the thread you linked to, Stardog pretty much put it as I see it. I would add that the entire power supply is in the case so that should be considered when critiquing its size. The pico psu style power supplies may be more efficient and better from a heat/space/noise standpoint inside the case, but if you're going to nit pick at a case this small then I think you have to factor in that the external adapter those smaller cases have does require some space of its own (not that it would matter to me, I'm just saying if we're going to really get into every aspect of space occupied). Also, since both the cases used as a comparison are 1.8" shorter and place the optical drive above the board, you would definitely be looking for some crafty alternatives to a stock cpu cooler. I think those cases are really meant for motherboards that have the cpu integrated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StardogChampion

Do you think this case would fit a stock AMD HSF or would it need something lower profile? Thanks.

I'm hoping. I'll definitely post back and let you know. I searched and searched, but I could not find measurements for the stock cooler on the amd athlon x2 255. I also don't know how much room I'll have to work with in the case. A rough estimate would be 3.5" from top of mother board to ceiling of case, judging from the pictures on the Teschke.de site. Note that the height for the version with an internal psu is actually 4.78". In your discussion with Renethx you used the shorter dimension of the external psu versions. I don't know how the height is measured though. If it is from the bottom of the feet to the top of the lid I could be in trouble. Wouldn't be a deal breaker if I have to replace the stock cpu cooler, just disappointing.